Thomas Frank is increasingly confident that Ivan Toney will still be a Brentford player when the transfer window closes next month.
Toney has been strongly linked with a move away from the Bees this summer, as he enters the final year of his contract having made it clear he “wants to play for the top clubs”.
However, Chelsea and Manchester United have not officially entered the race, while Arsenal have moved onto other targets and Tottenham strengthened up front with the signing of Dominic Solanke. Recent reports suggest Chelsea and United could make loan offers late in the summer, with an obligation to buy.
With just a few weeks to go until the end of the transfer window, Brentford boss Frank is hopeful no serious interest in his striker will materialise.
“There’s been a lot of talk about Ivan,” Frank told Sky Sports.
“The last six months, about will he leave this summer. So far he’s still a Brentford player, so I think we’re getting closer and closer to that he is actually a Brentford player [this season].
“I’m getting more and more excited because he’s a top player and I’m loving working with Ivan. We’ve got a fantastic relationship.
“That’s what I think, he will be a Brentford player after September 1.”
United have already signed a striker this summer, with Joshua Zirkzee arriving from Bologna for £36.5million.
However, the Dutchman has not yet made his debut and Rasmus Hojlund is expected to miss the first weeks of the season with a hamstring injury, with former United striker Brian McClair urging the club to make a move for Toney to bolster their attacking options.
“I think they’d benefit from signing Ivan Toney,” McClair told SportsBoom.com.
“Maybe they’d benefit from a player who is slightly different like him – and he’s only got a year left on his contract.”
“The biggest problem for United is scoring goals. Getting him would provide good competition, for me that’s always the best thing.”
“It sharpens your all-round performances and your desire to stay in the team when you’re playing. You only have to look at how many goals they scored last year, it’s very low.”
